noun 1. any of several satirical “laws” concerning organizational structure, especially one that holds that people tend to be promoted until they reach their level of incompetence.noun 1. the Peter Principle, the theory, usually taken facetiously, that all members in a hierarchy rise to their own level of incompetence

1968, “in a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence,” named for (and by) Laurence Johnston Peter (1919-1990) Canadian-born U.S. educationalist and author, who described it in his book of the same name (1969).

A rule of organizations that states, “In a hierarchy, every employee tends to rise to his level of incompetence.” Formulated by Laurence J. Peter, this rule is supposed to explain occupational incompetence.

[pee-terz-burg] /ˈpi tərzˌbɜrg/ noun 1. a city in SE Virginia: besieged by Union forces 1864–65. /ˈpiːtəzˌbɜːɡ/ noun 1. a city in SE Virginia, on the Appomattox River: scene of prolonged fighting (1864–65) during the final months of the American Civil War. Pop: 33 091 (2003 est)

[pee-ter-shuh m, -sham] /ˈpi tər ʃəm, -ˌʃæm/ noun 1. a heavy woolen cloth for men’s overcoats and other bulky outerwear. 2. a coat or jacket made of this cloth. 3. a corded material for hatbands, the insides of belts, etc. 4. a narrow belting for the tops of skirts. /ˈpiːtəʃəm/ noun 1. a thick corded […]

[snel] /snɛl/ noun 1. Peter (George) born 1938, New Zealand distance runner. /snɛl/ adjective 1. (Scot) biting; bitter; sharp /snɛl/ noun 1. Sir Peter (George). born 1938, New Zealand athlete; winner of three Olympic gold medals: for the 800 metres in 1960, and again in 1964, when he also won gold for the 1500 metres […]

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